Sunday Morning Worship | Carl McCray, Pastor

Are you ready for the storms of life? Being “storm ready” doesn’t just apply to the weather. We should be storm ready in every area of our lives – during storms of sickness, storms of sorrow, disappointment, pressure, deadlines, doubt, gossip, betrayal, finances – just to name a few. Storms can happen at work, in our family, in our churches, in our city and in our world. Storms are a part of our lives. It’s best to be prepared because storms are coming. We are all either in a storm, coming out of a storm or going into a storm. Are you ready for the unexpected?

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”Matthew 7:24-27

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told a parable about two builders. One was wise and one was foolish. Both men heard what Jesus had to say. and both responded in different ways. One was obedient and one was not. Hearing is great, but unless you put what you’ve heard into practice, it does you no good. Which builder are you like? Is your house – your life – built to withstand the storm? The foundation on which we build our lives is the most important decision we will ever make. Build your life on the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the foundation that will give your life strength and stability to weather the storms.

How do we withstand the storms of life?

Do it through surrender. Every day surrender your life to Jesus Christ. It’s a commitment every day to follow Jesus and let Him have control.

Listen to the truth. Jesus has something to say to us in His word, the Bible. Listen and put it into practice. Apply it to your life.. James 1:22 tells us to not just hear the word and deceive yourselves but do what it says. Jesus says in John 14:15, ‘if you love me, keep my commands.’

Decide life is not about me. Make everything you do an act of worship and an act of service.

Based on Matthew 7:25-27, are you wise or foolish? Are you listening to the Master? The first step to be wise is to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and be the leader of your life. The second step is to put what you learn from Jesus into practice daily. Are you prepared to withstand the storms of life? It’s your choice.